Well, looks like Fazio is trying to hint at Bauza in calling him. During the Sub 20's, I was a fan, mostly because of his height. He never got it going, and he was quite poor in England. But recently, since he has moved to Roma, he has been a different player(From all the reports). Maybe the league has helped him, since it is not played as fast. Bauza was at the Roma game a few weeks back. I am not sure if Bauza spoke to him, because the rumor was that he went to scout Perotti(Who got injured 20 minutes in, shocker, I know, and Paredes).

Unlike Papu Gomez(Who is actually having a good season in Italy), Fazio can play for Italy, even though he had played in the Sub 20's for us. Similar to that muerto Paletta. Papu Gomez recently stated that he was unable to because he played for us at the Sub 20's(And I am assuming he has no lineage that goes back to Italy).

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Yes Gomez isn't of Italian origin and didn't have an italian passport at the time he played for Argentina, he only got Italian citizenship due to his residency, which is different than being of Italian ancestry- while Fazio- his name is Fazio after all- was an Italian citizen when he represented Argentina at Sub 20, so he would be eligible for Italy.

I'm not a big fan, but if the idiot, ass clown Bauza would rather call up Demichelis over Fazio, then we are more lost than I thought. He should at least be in the squad, especially considering the people he is using.

Chile is rumored to be interested in ex-Banfield talent and current Genoa player Thomas Rodríguez. Thomas was born in Chile where his father Leo played for La U. Now, I doubt that Thomas will take a call-up in the near future since he has no connection to Chile other than birth and not to mention his father represented for the seleccion.

I think for the most part Sampa has his three GK's for now(Romero, Marchesín, and Guzmán) and a fourth in Rulli. Unfortunately for goalkeepers, you can only play one at a time, it's not like an outfield player where they can get a chance. Armani has had success in Colombia and has won everything you can with Atlético Nacional but will he push Ospina out of the #1 spot?

I think for the most part Sampa has his three GK's for now(Romero, Marchesín, and Guzmán) and a fourth in Rulli. Unfortunately for goalkeepers, you can only play one at a time, it's not like an outfield player where they can get a chance. Armani has had success in Colombia and has won everything you can with Atlético Nacional but will he push Ospina out of the #1 spot?

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That is the million dollar question.
Personally I don't think he will. But over the last few months Ospina is getting less and less time at Arsenal (He only plays occasional cup matches and european matches.) and in his last couple of outings he has made some blunders in judgment. Now he is injured and some say he may miss the November friendlies.

Armani has the quality to at least give him a run for his money and not feel complacent. To me he is far and a way more skillful and more of a leader than any of the backup options who are Colombian. Heck, in some ways I like the way he plays better than Ospina. So it would not shock me to see him get the job either if Ospina gets injured or just loses his form due to lack of playing time at Arsenal.

That is the million dollar question.
Personally I don't think he will. But over the last few months Ospina is getting less and less time at Arsenal (He only plays occasional cup matches and european matches.) and in his last couple of outings he has made some blunders in judgment. Now he is injured and some say he may miss the November friendlies.

Armani has the quality to at least give him a run for his money and not feel complacent. To me he is far and a way more skillful and more of a leader than any of the backup options who are Colombian. Heck, in some ways I like the way he plays better than Ospina. So it would not shock me to see him get the job either if Ospina gets injured or just loses his form due to lack of playing time at Arsenal.

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Ospina might be untouchable. Managers are very reluctant to change goalkeepers unless you have somebody like Mourinho who sent Iker, a club icon to the bench without hesitation. Chiquito has been riding the bench for the last few years and manager after manager, he's been our #1. Romero, like Ospina, has a blunder in him for every single match and I am not comforable with him as our #1 nor will I ever be, no matter how PK's he stops. I would rather go with a GK that can distribute the ball from goal kicks, not give up rebounds and be comfortable from CK's.

Armani would in all likelihood be an upgrade to an out of form Ospina but again if he becomes eligible will Pekerman be brazen enough to make the call to A, call him up and B to push Ospina to the side and start him as the #1.

It sets up to be interesting because I think Armani is an injury away from starting. Our backups are just not reliable enough to me for Armani not to be guaranteed #2 going into Russia assuming everything goes down in the Naturalization process
I don;t know if Pekerman being Argentinian helps or hurts his chances, but I assume it only helps him adapt
We shall see.

I also heard that he was worried about being capped lock for us. He was hesitant because Scaloni is the caretaker, if he played for us in a friendly under Scaloni , he would be capped lock and if a new manager came and neglected him then he wouldn't be able to play for Paraguay.

Plus, I doubt he would ever start with Nico being the current captain and playing in the same position.

Staff Member

Tbh I had never heard of the guy until yesterday and there could possibly be a handful of better options, but we could use a good LB even with Tagliafico’s presence. Arzamendia’s numbers show a strong contribution to the attack, which is something we haven’t had since Sorin’s retirement, and his work rate is praised by fans

Still the kid is only 21 and it has yet to be seen if he’s anywhere near NT quality. He lacks experience outside of the Paraguayan league, but I guess he must have some interesting traits if two NTs are already having a look at him.

Staff Member

Is the Italian national pool really that dry? Both Driussi and Pussetto are very interesting players, but it's beyond pathetic that such a historic side like the Italian NT has to look at players that possess no link to them.

While not peaking as he was before moving to Russia, I think Seba could offer a lot to the NT.. It's not like a few years back, when any good forward had no realistic chance of being called-up regardless of form due to Messi, Aguero, Higuain, Tevez, etc. being some of the best strikers on the planet.

Hell, if even Gio Simeone is being called-up nowadays, I'd say Driussi has a serious chance of playing for the albiceleste if he moves to a better team soon. It would be a shame for him to rule out any possibility of representing us by playing for the tanos, but I'm sure he'll prioritze Argentina and won't be quick to make a decision.

Is the Italian national pool really that dry? Both Driussi and Pussetto are very interesting players, but it's beyond pathetic that such a historic side like the Italian NT has to look at players that possess no link to them.

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It kinda is. I saw bits and pieces of their last two friendlies. They just squeaked by the U.S. in a stoppage time goal. The days of Baggio, ADP, Totti Vieri and etc. are over for them. They have very mediocre players in their midfield and forwards. Granted, Bernardeschi is crack but I do not see any real talent coming in their ranks.

No wonder they tried to convince Icardi and Dybala to play for them. They should be a bit more prideful than try to poach our young players.

He can't now play for Spain, but he could earlier. Who knows, if he had great career in Barcelona, Spain would invite him, just like Mariano Pernia, Marcos Sena, Diego Costa. But it's not nice to see that Messi dictates everything in the NT. Icardi and Dybala in the attack, Messi and Aguero behind them, with Lo Celso, Di Maria, Banega behind them.

I noticed that several threads here have the names: players with dual citizenships, no mercy at all, just grab whoever has few percent of origins.

I had a point in my previous elaborations, I guessed well the potential problems for Argentina. Because I observed the wider picture, not only names on the paper. Mutual relations are the most important fact in every NT. Con esas chicas, Wanda Nara, la rubia, no podemos construir casi nada, solo podemos esperar y perdir lamentablemente.

Icardi is of Italian origin through his paternal ancestors named Icardi from Piedmont and Da Mezan from Venice. He has an Italian passport. He features on the cover of the Italian version of EA Sports' FIFA 16, alongside global cover star and compatriot Lionel Messi.

Is the Italian national pool really that dry? Both Driussi and Pussetto are very interesting players, but it's beyond pathetic that such a historic side like the Italian NT has to look at players that possess no link to them.

While not peaking as he was before moving to Russia, I think Seba could offer a lot to the NT.. It's not like a few years back, when any good forward had no realistic chance of being called-up regardless of form due to Messi, Aguero, Higuain, Tevez, etc. being some of the best strikers on the planet.

Hell, if even Gio Simeone is being called-up nowadays, I'd say Driussi has a serious chance of playing for the albiceleste if he moves to a better team soon. It would be a shame for him to rule out any possibility of representing us by playing for the tanos, but I'm sure he'll prioritze Argentina and won't be quick to make a decision.

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Italy have a really poor team at the moment, they are struggling badly for talent, hence their interest in these 2 players.